As new species invade novel geographic regions, they have the propensity to reorganize multi-species community interactions. The expansion of the rabies virus in Europe and across the eastern United ...
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As new species invade novel geographic regions, they have the propensity to reorganize multi-species community interactions. The expansion of the rabies virus in Europe and across the eastern United States provides a model system for comparing the linkage between community dynamics and the spatio-temporal dynamics of an invading parasite and its hosts. The European rabies epizootic has been largely restricted to a single terrestrial carnivore host — the red fox — while the US rabies epizootic has involved multiple terrestrial carnivore hosts including raccoons, foxes, skunks, coyotes, and domestic animals. This chapter reviews mathematical models that predict the spatio-temporal patterns of rabies occurring in different reservoir hosts, and explores the implications of the geographic range expansion of the rabies virus within a specific host — the raccoon — on host-shift and spill-over dynamics among alternate hosts.Less

Spatial-temporal dynamics of rabies in ecological communities

Leslie A. RealJames E. Childs

Published in print: 2006-01-26

As new species invade novel geographic regions, they have the propensity to reorganize multi-species community interactions. The expansion of the rabies virus in Europe and across the eastern United States provides a model system for comparing the linkage between community dynamics and the spatio-temporal dynamics of an invading parasite and its hosts. The European rabies epizootic has been largely restricted to a single terrestrial carnivore host — the red fox — while the US rabies epizootic has involved multiple terrestrial carnivore hosts including raccoons, foxes, skunks, coyotes, and domestic animals. This chapter reviews mathematical models that predict the spatio-temporal patterns of rabies occurring in different reservoir hosts, and explores the implications of the geographic range expansion of the rabies virus within a specific host — the raccoon — on host-shift and spill-over dynamics among alternate hosts.

This chapter takes a brief look at the ecology and behaviour of the major mammals in the dynamics of the savannah ecosystem. Other animals (insects and birds) are mentioned briefly. First, the ...
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This chapter takes a brief look at the ecology and behaviour of the major mammals in the dynamics of the savannah ecosystem. Other animals (insects and birds) are mentioned briefly. First, the chapter examines the herbivores. This includes the migratory species of the Serengeti ecosystem (wildebeest, plains zebra and Thomson's gazelle) plus elephant, giraffe, hippopotamus, buffalo, Grant's gazelle, impala, hartebeest, topi (tiang & tsessebe), eland, rhinoceros, bushbuck, steenbok, oryx, gerenuk, dik dik, and kudu. Each species description includes details of size and weight, diet, behaviour, breeding, conservation status, and a distribution map. Biological topics that impinge upon diet and food selection, such as metabolism and body size, body size and mouth width, the contrast between ruminants and non-ruminants, are examined. Second, the chapter examines the major carnivores. These include lion, spotted hyaena, striped and brown hyaena, cheetah, leopard, wild dog, three jackals, foxes, and mongooses. Again diet, plus hunting techniques and territory characteristics and behaviour are briefly discussed, and a distribution map provided. Two savannah primates: baboons and vervet monkeys, are detailed.Less

The animals

Bryan Shorrocks

Published in print: 2007-08-01

This chapter takes a brief look at the ecology and behaviour of the major mammals in the dynamics of the savannah ecosystem. Other animals (insects and birds) are mentioned briefly. First, the chapter examines the herbivores. This includes the migratory species of the Serengeti ecosystem (wildebeest, plains zebra and Thomson's gazelle) plus elephant, giraffe, hippopotamus, buffalo, Grant's gazelle, impala, hartebeest, topi (tiang & tsessebe), eland, rhinoceros, bushbuck, steenbok, oryx, gerenuk, dik dik, and kudu. Each species description includes details of size and weight, diet, behaviour, breeding, conservation status, and a distribution map. Biological topics that impinge upon diet and food selection, such as metabolism and body size, body size and mouth width, the contrast between ruminants and non-ruminants, are examined. Second, the chapter examines the major carnivores. These include lion, spotted hyaena, striped and brown hyaena, cheetah, leopard, wild dog, three jackals, foxes, and mongooses. Again diet, plus hunting techniques and territory characteristics and behaviour are briefly discussed, and a distribution map provided. Two savannah primates: baboons and vervet monkeys, are detailed.

In the southern Kalahari densities of large carnivores are relatively low, with the brown hyena the most abundant. Resource partitioning is well defined as each species tends to concentrate on the ...
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In the southern Kalahari densities of large carnivores are relatively low, with the brown hyena the most abundant. Resource partitioning is well defined as each species tends to concentrate on the prey species it is best adapted to utilize, and they show dietary flexibility. Interactions between cheetahs and other large carnivores were rare and mostly inconsequential. Only 6.1% of kills were kleptoparasitized, with an average percentage loss of 65% per kill. Nearly all (82.6%) kills stolen, were stolen at night, were springbok, and the perpetrators were mainly lions and brown hyenas. Diurnal hunting largely counters kleptoparasitism, and anyway cheetahs are well adapted physiologically, through their daily energy expenditure, to cope with over 25% loss of kills. Jackals were often attracted to cheetah kills. Occasionally, if numbers grew to more than five, they could harass cheetahs into abandoning the kill prematurely. Jackals may also sometimes kill small cheetah cubs.Less

Coexistence and the cheetah’s relations with other carnivores

M.G.L. MillsM.E.J. Mills

Published in print: 2017-04-27

In the southern Kalahari densities of large carnivores are relatively low, with the brown hyena the most abundant. Resource partitioning is well defined as each species tends to concentrate on the prey species it is best adapted to utilize, and they show dietary flexibility. Interactions between cheetahs and other large carnivores were rare and mostly inconsequential. Only 6.1% of kills were kleptoparasitized, with an average percentage loss of 65% per kill. Nearly all (82.6%) kills stolen, were stolen at night, were springbok, and the perpetrators were mainly lions and brown hyenas. Diurnal hunting largely counters kleptoparasitism, and anyway cheetahs are well adapted physiologically, through their daily energy expenditure, to cope with over 25% loss of kills. Jackals were often attracted to cheetah kills. Occasionally, if numbers grew to more than five, they could harass cheetahs into abandoning the kill prematurely. Jackals may also sometimes kill small cheetah cubs.

The Serengeti-Mara ecosystem harbors a rich community of carnivores, and we are making gains to understand their ecology and distribution. In this system seasonality is important in driving many of ...
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The Serengeti-Mara ecosystem harbors a rich community of carnivores, and we are making gains to understand their ecology and distribution. In this system seasonality is important in driving many of the large carnivores’ movements and abundance patterns, while the distribution of all carnivores is also influenced by the availability of their preferred habitats in the ecosystem. However, even in an ecosystem the size of the Serengeti, carnivores are still influenced by the impacts of humans. Human activities, particularly from higher density agropastoralist populations, severely impact the structure and composition of carnivore assemblages, with far-reaching consequences. Agropastoralist areas likely act as sinks for wide-ranging larger bodied carnivore species and potentially as sources for opportunistic omnivorous species, whereas carnivore guilds are more complete and diverse in pastoralist areas—further confirming their conservation value. Long-term trends in abundance can be detected using the methods we present here, and future cross-disciplinary research needs to be implemented to determine the drivers of these trends (for example, in our case, declines in golden jackal abundance).Less

Carnivore Communities in the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem

Meggan E. CraftKatie HampsonJoseph O. OgutuSarah M. Durant

Published in print: 2015-04-05

The Serengeti-Mara ecosystem harbors a rich community of carnivores, and we are making gains to understand their ecology and distribution. In this system seasonality is important in driving many of the large carnivores’ movements and abundance patterns, while the distribution of all carnivores is also influenced by the availability of their preferred habitats in the ecosystem. However, even in an ecosystem the size of the Serengeti, carnivores are still influenced by the impacts of humans. Human activities, particularly from higher density agropastoralist populations, severely impact the structure and composition of carnivore assemblages, with far-reaching consequences. Agropastoralist areas likely act as sinks for wide-ranging larger bodied carnivore species and potentially as sources for opportunistic omnivorous species, whereas carnivore guilds are more complete and diverse in pastoralist areas—further confirming their conservation value. Long-term trends in abundance can be detected using the methods we present here, and future cross-disciplinary research needs to be implemented to determine the drivers of these trends (for example, in our case, declines in golden jackal abundance).

This chapter examines the carnivore fossils present in the Daka Member. Carnivores from the Daka Member include leopards, lions, and crocutoid hyaenas. There are 10 specimens of carnivore fossils in ...
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This chapter examines the carnivore fossils present in the Daka Member. Carnivores from the Daka Member include leopards, lions, and crocutoid hyaenas. There are 10 specimens of carnivore fossils in the Daka Member, and the assemblage presents one of the best Pleistocene Crocuta crania known. This cranium, along with remains of both Panthera cf. leo and Panthera cf. pardus, indicate the presence of numerous large carnivores in the community represented by the Daka Member.Less

Carnivora

W. Henry GilbertNuria GarcíaF. Clark Howell

Published in print: 2009-04-02

This chapter examines the carnivore fossils present in the Daka Member. Carnivores from the Daka Member include leopards, lions, and crocutoid hyaenas. There are 10 specimens of carnivore fossils in the Daka Member, and the assemblage presents one of the best Pleistocene Crocuta crania known. This cranium, along with remains of both Panthera cf. leo and Panthera cf. pardus, indicate the presence of numerous large carnivores in the community represented by the Daka Member.

This chapter begins with the author's first-hand accounts about prey that are unafraid of predators due to lack of exposure to these. It then suggests that if there are lessons to be learned and ...
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This chapter begins with the author's first-hand accounts about prey that are unafraid of predators due to lack of exposure to these. It then suggests that if there are lessons to be learned and applied to conservation, we need to look both to past and current attempts to understand how carnivore reintroductions affect modern prey. If naiveté contributes significantly to the evil quartet of extinction—overexploitation, habitat destruction, invading species, and secondary extinctions—we must know why, and develop remedies to enhance the path to survival. This book centers on three questions: (1) Can naive animals avoid death and population extinction when they encounter re-introduced carnivores? (2) To what extent is fear culturally transmitted? (3) How can an understanding of current behavior help unravel the ambiguity of past extinctions while contributing to future conservation?Less

Prologue

Joel Berger

Published in print: 2008-11-15

This chapter begins with the author's first-hand accounts about prey that are unafraid of predators due to lack of exposure to these. It then suggests that if there are lessons to be learned and applied to conservation, we need to look both to past and current attempts to understand how carnivore reintroductions affect modern prey. If naiveté contributes significantly to the evil quartet of extinction—overexploitation, habitat destruction, invading species, and secondary extinctions—we must know why, and develop remedies to enhance the path to survival. This book centers on three questions: (1) Can naive animals avoid death and population extinction when they encounter re-introduced carnivores? (2) To what extent is fear culturally transmitted? (3) How can an understanding of current behavior help unravel the ambiguity of past extinctions while contributing to future conservation?

Animals that must hunt and kill for at least part of their living are inherently interesting to many people, and the role that carnivores play in biological communities attracts interest from ...
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Animals that must hunt and kill for at least part of their living are inherently interesting to many people, and the role that carnivores play in biological communities attracts interest from ecologists and conservation biologists. Conflicts with human activities stimulate continual debates about the management of carnivore populations, and throughout the world people seek workable solutions for human/carnivore coexistence. This book describes research methods and techniques for the study and conservation of all terrestrial carnivore species. Particular attention is paid to techniques for managing the human/carnivore interface. Descriptions of the latest methodologies are supported by references to case studies, whilst dedicated boxes are used to illustrate how a technique is applied to a specific land cover type, species, or particular socio-economic context. The book describes the most recent advances in modelling the patterns of animal distributions, movements, and use of land cover types, as well as including the most efficient methods to trap, handle, and mark carnivores. Carnivores are biogeographically diverse and whilst extensive scientific research has investigated many aspects of carnivore biology, not all species have been equally covered. This book is unique in its intention to provide practical guidance for carrying out research and conservation of carnivores across all species and areas of the world.Less

Carnivore Ecology and Conservation : A Handbook of Techniques

Published in print: 2012-01-12

Animals that must hunt and kill for at least part of their living are inherently interesting to many people, and the role that carnivores play in biological communities attracts interest from ecologists and conservation biologists. Conflicts with human activities stimulate continual debates about the management of carnivore populations, and throughout the world people seek workable solutions for human/carnivore coexistence. This book describes research methods and techniques for the study and conservation of all terrestrial carnivore species. Particular attention is paid to techniques for managing the human/carnivore interface. Descriptions of the latest methodologies are supported by references to case studies, whilst dedicated boxes are used to illustrate how a technique is applied to a specific land cover type, species, or particular socio-economic context. The book describes the most recent advances in modelling the patterns of animal distributions, movements, and use of land cover types, as well as including the most efficient methods to trap, handle, and mark carnivores. Carnivores are biogeographically diverse and whilst extensive scientific research has investigated many aspects of carnivore biology, not all species have been equally covered. This book is unique in its intention to provide practical guidance for carrying out research and conservation of carnivores across all species and areas of the world.

The editors of this book have used their combined 90 years of experience working on the behaviour and ecology of wild carnivores to draw together a unique network of the world’s experts on musteloid ...
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The editors of this book have used their combined 90 years of experience working on the behaviour and ecology of wild carnivores to draw together a unique network of the world’s experts on musteloid biology and conservation. The musteloids are the most speciose and diverse super-family among carnivores, ranging from little known, exotic, and highly-endangered species to the popular and familiar, and include a large number of introduced invasives. They feature terrestrial, fossorial, arboreal, and aquatic members, ranging from tenacious predators to frugivorous omnivores, span weights from a 100g weasel to 30kg giant otters, and express a range of social behaviours from the highly gregarious to the fiercely solitary. Their diversity and extensive biogeography inform a wide spectrum of ecological theory and conservation practice. Beginning with a brief account of 93 musteloid species, there follow eight comprehensive review chapters covering topics most relevant to musteloid biology and conservation: evolution, form and function, population dynamics, communication, social organisation, exploitation and conflict with people, study tools and techniques, and disease. Twenty detailed case studies then delve into the very best species investigations worldwide, written by leading figures in the field, and providing a range of geographic and taxonomic coverage. The final chapter synthesises what has been discussed in the book, and reflects on the different and diverse conservation needs of musteloids and the wealth of conservation lessons they offer.Less

Biology and Conservation of Musteloids

Published in print: 2017-10-19

The editors of this book have used their combined 90 years of experience working on the behaviour and ecology of wild carnivores to draw together a unique network of the world’s experts on musteloid biology and conservation. The musteloids are the most speciose and diverse super-family among carnivores, ranging from little known, exotic, and highly-endangered species to the popular and familiar, and include a large number of introduced invasives. They feature terrestrial, fossorial, arboreal, and aquatic members, ranging from tenacious predators to frugivorous omnivores, span weights from a 100g weasel to 30kg giant otters, and express a range of social behaviours from the highly gregarious to the fiercely solitary. Their diversity and extensive biogeography inform a wide spectrum of ecological theory and conservation practice. Beginning with a brief account of 93 musteloid species, there follow eight comprehensive review chapters covering topics most relevant to musteloid biology and conservation: evolution, form and function, population dynamics, communication, social organisation, exploitation and conflict with people, study tools and techniques, and disease. Twenty detailed case studies then delve into the very best species investigations worldwide, written by leading figures in the field, and providing a range of geographic and taxonomic coverage. The final chapter synthesises what has been discussed in the book, and reflects on the different and diverse conservation needs of musteloids and the wealth of conservation lessons they offer.

The continuing global decline of large carnivores today has catalyzed great interest in reintroduction with the dual goal of restoring populations and reestablishing ecologically important ...
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The continuing global decline of large carnivores today has catalyzed great interest in reintroduction with the dual goal of restoring populations and reestablishing ecologically important relationships with other species. The repatriation of predators like wolves and bears to their native ecosystems will always be an emotionally charged and culturally disruptive issue. Humans who incur few if any burdens associated with carnivores generally favor restoration; those living rurally and in closer proximity have greater antipathy. In the American West, carnivore repatriation has been especially divisive. This chapter asks: Can prey species adjust to their presence? Indeed, can people?Less

The Wolf is at the Door-Who's Afraid?

Joel Berger

Published in print: 2008-11-15

The continuing global decline of large carnivores today has catalyzed great interest in reintroduction with the dual goal of restoring populations and reestablishing ecologically important relationships with other species. The repatriation of predators like wolves and bears to their native ecosystems will always be an emotionally charged and culturally disruptive issue. Humans who incur few if any burdens associated with carnivores generally favor restoration; those living rurally and in closer proximity have greater antipathy. In the American West, carnivore repatriation has been especially divisive. This chapter asks: Can prey species adjust to their presence? Indeed, can people?

This chapter describes conservation studies of two Australian arid-zone marsupials, the bilby or rabbit-eared bandicoot (Macrotis lagotis) and the yellow-footed rock-wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus). ...
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This chapter describes conservation studies of two Australian arid-zone marsupials, the bilby or rabbit-eared bandicoot (Macrotis lagotis) and the yellow-footed rock-wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus). Artificial watering points made possible the rapid and massive invasion of the Australian arid and semi-arid zones by both exotic herbivores and carnivores. This resulted in the removal of low vegetation that provides important refuges to marsupials, leaving them much more exposed to predation by exotic carnivores, such as foxes and feral cats. Studies on the energy and water requirements of both marsupials provide information that neither species require access to free water. By contrast, the introduced species have higher water requirements. This chapter suggests that since the introduced of species requires free water, one way to ensure the long-term conservation of both arid zone marsupials is the complete removal of artificial sources of water.Less

Conservation of Australian Arid-Zone Marsupials: Making Use of Knowledge of Their Energy and Water Requirements

Ian D. HumeLesley A. GibsonSteven J. Lapidge

Published in print: 2004-09-13

This chapter describes conservation studies of two Australian arid-zone marsupials, the bilby or rabbit-eared bandicoot (Macrotis lagotis) and the yellow-footed rock-wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus). Artificial watering points made possible the rapid and massive invasion of the Australian arid and semi-arid zones by both exotic herbivores and carnivores. This resulted in the removal of low vegetation that provides important refuges to marsupials, leaving them much more exposed to predation by exotic carnivores, such as foxes and feral cats. Studies on the energy and water requirements of both marsupials provide information that neither species require access to free water. By contrast, the introduced species have higher water requirements. This chapter suggests that since the introduced of species requires free water, one way to ensure the long-term conservation of both arid zone marsupials is the complete removal of artificial sources of water.